Climate and Environment

SouthGrow's climate is mild and the environment is one of the cleanest in North America. Alberta Environment introduced Alberta's Air Quality Index (AQI) on April 1, 2003. The AQI is based on concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). A minimum of four of the above listed pollutants is required to calculate the AQI, one of which must be PM2.5. Based on these calculations, the Air Quality Index measurements for the region showed that the air quality was rated “good” (highest rating) 93.4 percent of the time and "fair" 6.6 percent of the time.

SouthGrow is characterized by mild winters and warm summers, with residents enjoying over 300 days of measuralbe sunlight per year. Other areas of Canada average much less. Chinook winds in the region reduce the severity and length of the winters and ease the many hot summer days. Relatively dry air provides comfortable atmosphere for the residents.

This area's growing season, based on an average daily temperature of at least 5 degrees Celcius is over 185 days. Precipitation between May 1st and August 31st, the period that provides the most water for successful crop production averages between 200 and 250 mm per year for the region. This rainfall is augmented in many areas by many kilometres of irrigation canals that allow a variety of cropping including many root crops.

Environment Canada devised the climate severity index to rate a locality's climate according to human comfort and well being. The index has a range from 1 to 100, with a score of 1 representing the least severe climate and 100 the most. The climate severity index is an indicator of the year-round rigours created by climate. For various airport locations in Canada, points were assigned for 17 weather elements depending on extremes, intensity and duration, and the totals were summed and weighted to get the climate severity index. Here is a sampling of locations across Canada: